Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 265 - 101: Refusal

For a man to marry at eighteen is not considered late. Mrs. Lv deliberately postponed the marriage age to stop Granny Tao from gossiping. Moreover, her Xiao Bao is now a Scholar. In three years, after he becomes a scholar and then an Advanced Scholar, what good family’s daughter couldn’t he choose?

Granny Tao’s suggestions didn’t interest her at all; they were merely the daughters of landlords and wealthy merchants, whom she deemed completely unworthy of Xiao Bao.

Aunt Tao almost couldn’t maintain her smile upon hearing this, but she knew that the Gu Family was different now. After all, they were the family of a Scholar.

Moreover, Mrs. Lv was right. Gu Family’s fifth son won the Scholar title at such a young age. He might become a scholar in three years and then an official once he becomes an Advanced Scholar. Speaking of it, it is indeed the girl’s family that would be reaching up.

Having thought it through, she grinned again, "Look at you, why so anxious? I was just mentioning it. This time the suggested match is quite good. Since we get along well, I thought, why let fertile water flow into others’ fields? If you’re not willing, then wait for your Scholar to grow older to discuss again."

Seeing Aunt Tao was no longer pushing, Mrs. Lv was relieved. Matchmakers are not to be easily offended. With a word, they could turn the living into dead and the dead into living. If such rumors spread, it wouldn’t be good for her family’s reputation.

Actually, Mrs. Lv knew it was just Aunt Tao’s rhetoric! Her Xiao Bao is so young. Can the girl possibly be much older than Xiao Bao? Whose daughter gets engaged so young? If not for probing intentions, she wouldn’t believe it!

Aunt Tao, indeed famed around the ten-mile radius, soon coaxed Mrs. Lv into a good mood. After chatting a while, Aunt Tao got up to leave, with a pack of pastries from Mrs. Lv in her arms.

Gu Chengyu was a bit curious about the woman; he hadn’t seen her before! When Granny Tao was matchmaking for Gu Chenglian three years ago, Gu Chengyu had school every day, so he hadn’t seen Granny Tao. After thinking for a while, he thought she was just visiting Mrs. Lv for a chat and didn’t pay attention.

After finishing writing the invitations, he tidied up and went to the main room.

"Ah! Then I shall take my leave now!" Granny Tao was just walking out the door when she saw Gu Chengyu coming from the courtyard.

"Oh my! Is this the Scholar? Truly handsome! Not inferior to the sons of aristocratic families!" Aunt Tao eyed Gu Chengyu from head to toe, her intense gaze making Gu Chengyu a bit uncomfortable.

The Gu Family’s Scholar truly was outstanding, no wonder that lady was eager to have her probe for information.

"You don’t recognize me, do you? I’m your Aunt Tao..."

"Is it Xiao Bao? Come in and help your mother with the needle and thread. Mother can’t see well!" Mrs. Lv, fearing Aunt Tao might babble, quickly interrupted her, intending to call Gu Chengyu inside.

"Is Aunt Tao leaving? Then I won’t see you off; take care!" Gu Chengyu smiled at Aunt Tao before turning back to the main house.

Aunt Tao nodded watching Gu Chengyu’s back—a rare sense of politeness.

In the private school in town, Mr. Wen stormed into the inner courtyard.

"Master!" Xiao Cui glanced at the angry master, feeling a bit anxious.

"Did you call a matchmaker the other day? Why did you bring her home? Did you send her to the Gu Family?" Mr. Wen, restraining his anger, questioned the Tang Family sitting by the desk reading.

Mr. Wen recalled how the Tang Family had been muttering about their daughter’s marriage for days. She’d kept bringing up Gu Chengyu. But he had already said the opportunity had passed; it couldn’t be brought up now.

"I did call a matchmaker, but I only had her probe for information. That woman knows what to say."

Despite saying so, she thought the Gu Family certainly wouldn’t refuse. Her husband was also a Scholar, making them well-matched. She couldn’t understand why her husband wouldn’t agree or who initially praised Gu Chengyu so much.

"How can you expect good results by being so pushy? I am only a Scholar. He’s already a Scholar at a young age; who knows, he might become a scholar in three years. Would he even look at our family? Even if a high-born girl marries, if she agrees to this match, we have no solid foundation. If our daughter is bullied in the future, we can’t seek justice."

Mr. Wen sighed deeply, "You are really muddled! Only thinking of future glory without caring for our daughter’s well-being."

"How can I not care about our daughter? Don’t I want him to arrange a good match for her? Didn’t you say a thousand good things about Gu Chengyu? Now you’re the one opposing it." Tang Family threw down the brush in hand, getting angry too. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"Enough!" Mr. Wen found reason with the womenfolk futile. "When will the matchmaker return with news?"

"She said she could come today." Tang Family replied, annoyed.

Mr. Wen feared the matchmaker might expose their details and get rejected by the Gu family, losing face and reputation completely.

Gu Chengyu returned to the main house and asked about Aunt Tao; Mrs. Lv said she just dropped by, and Gu Chengyu didn’t question further.

The next day, Gu Chengyu walked out of the private school. He glanced back at the school gate, through which he could see the garden inside. He might frequent this place less in the future, having spent three years here, he felt a sense of reluctance.

Gu Chengyu walked towards the street from the private school, with Mr. Wen being a responsible teacher, particularly strict with him, but imparting all his knowledge. He was a good teacher.

However, earlier, Mr. Wen seemed to have something to say to him, but after looking at him for a while, he didn’t mention it, leaving him uncertain about its nature.

"Young master! You’re back. I haven’t congratulated you yet! You’re now a Scholar!" Gu Chengyu knocked on the door of the rented courtyard, and Yu Tuanzi quickly opened it from inside.

Gu Chengyu followed Yu Tuanzi into the courtyard, which now housed only a few young children. Others were dispatched to work, while older ones were temporarily arranged in the shop. Once he purchased a house in the Prefecture, further plans would be made.

"Go to the brokerage and purchase some farmland, buy the best fields, preferably near Shangling Village. Identify a ten-acre plot as clan-owned land, and for other good fields, buy a hundred acres."

Gu Chengyu wasn’t lacking Silver, but it wasn’t worthwhile to buy too much now. It would be better to wait until he became a scholar to purchase, as more tax-free fields would be available then. The reason for buying a hundred acres was that Mr. Gu felt bored staying home with too few fields, lacking energy and even appetite without something to do.

"Yes!" Yu Tuanzi glanced at Gu Chengyu, thinking it was right to work with him. Once Gu Chengyu became an official, he’d be the steward by the side of a high official, gaining much prestige.

Just as Yu Tuanzi dreamt away, Gu Chengyu’s voice rang again, "Later, drop by my external residence, check if Lv Yang is behaving, and bring some food and Silver Coin to the two elderly. Also, inform them that on the eighteenth, they will be picked up to attend a banquet."